Oracle will still authenticate users who aren't defined with external authentication, so unless I'm missing something, I see no reason for you to retain SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (NONE). Paul Baumgartel CREDIT SUISSE Information Technology Prime Services Databases Americas One Madison Avenue New York, NY 10010 USA Phone 212.538.1143 paul.baumgartel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.credit-suisse.com -----Original Message----- From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of sundar mahadevan Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 1:04 PM To: Oracle-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (NONE) results in ERROR: ORA-01031: insufficient privileges I should have been little more informative. I want to retain SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (NONE) in my sqlnet.ora and would want oracle database to authenticate the users. Since SQLNET.AUTHENTICATION_SERVICES = (NONE) is specified, OS authentication is disabled and hence / as sysdba fails with insufficient privileges. But dbstart/dbshut use / as sysdba to start database from /etc/oratab with values 'Y' against the instance names. sys/password@orams works fine while connecting normally but I cannot/donot want to hard code sys password in dbstart/dbshut scripts(No one would do that). TWO_TASK does not work. When set TWO_TASK basically is a replacement for @orams where orams is the tns connection name. It is not set in my environment. I hope I made myself clear here. Please let me know if you need more info. Thanks for your help. version of oracle: 10.1.0.3.0 platorm: OEL 5.3 -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l =============================================================================== Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://www.credit-suisse.com/legal/en/disclaimer_email_ib.html =============================================================================== -- //www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l